The faculty and staff of Rock Hill High is facilitating the process for all students to develop the World Class Skills required to fit the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, by setting high expectations through rigorous coursework in all content areas. Rock Hill High continually provides students opportunities to excel in academics, the arts, athletics, extra-curricular activities, character development, and community involvement.
This year we had 48 students graduate with highest honors and 32 with honors. One hundred and twenty-six students were CATE completers and ten seniors attempted to earn an IB diploma. Thirteen seniors were recognized as Advanced Placement Scholars and three seniors were recognized as Advanced Placement Scholar Candidates by College Board. Out of 330 graduating seniors, 191 earned LIFE and 19 earned Palmetto Fellows scholarships. Graduating seniors who began their freshman year in 2019-2020 were eligible to earn Seals of Distinction as outlined by the South Carolina Department of Education; 204 students qualified for one or more seals. The grand total of all scholarships offered to graduates was over $8.8 million dollars.
In our fine arts program, the Rock Hill High School Band of Distinction found much success this year. The marching band earned a rating of Excellent at the SCBDA 5A championship. The band had 15 students earn chairs in the SC Region Three Honor Bands. The Rock Hill High School winter guard earned the Gold Medal at the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Championships in the Scholastic Regional 3A class. The Indoor Percussion group earned the Gold Medal in the CWEA Scholastic Regional A class. The Symphonic band performed at the Concert Performance Assessment and earned a rating of Superior with Distinction, the highest rating an ensemble can receive. The band program also earned the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award, which is the highest award a band can earn from the state association.
Rock Hill High’s Choral program had three members named to the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association Honor Choir. One member was named to the South Carolina All State Chorus and one member was named to the American Choral Directors' Association National Honor Choir. The choir participated in the Palmetto State Festival earning an Excellent rating in stage and a Superior rating in Sight-Reading. The choir also participated in the Carowinds Festival of Music competition earning a Superior rating. The Orchestras had five students selected and one alternate by audition for the SC Music Educators Association’s Region 1 Honors Orchestras. The ensembles combined to participate in SCMEA Orchestra Division’s Region 1 Concert Performance Assessment, earning an Excellent rating.
The Rock Hill High School Theatre Department competed in November at the SC Theatre Association Secondary Festival with the production of “Parallel Lives” and was named as the State Champion Production. In March, the same production competed on behalf of the state of South Carolina at the Southeastern Theatre Conference and won 3rd place.
Twenty visual arts students were selected for the York County High School Art Show. Thirty-two students’ artworks were selected for the Teacher’s Choice Art Show. Our visual arts students received the following awards: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in 3D, 3rd place Mention in Mixed Media, and 1st and 2nd in Drawing.
Rock Hill High had 547 student athletes this year. Seventy-seven of those students were multi-sport athletes. Rock Hill High had 12 athletes sign scholarships, 43 senior scholar athletes (with a GPA of 3.5 or higher). Four athletes made all-star games, and 18 students were all-state athletes. Forty-four individual athletes made state tournaments as individuals in swim, wrestling and track and field. The female wrestling team won the first ever SCHSL sanctioned girls wrestling state championship. Two female wrestlers won state championships and two others finished with silver and bronze medals.
Two male members from the boys’ track team won state runner-up in the pole vault and high jump. The entire female cross-country team qualified for state. Three members from the swim team qualified for state. Both the girls and boys’ basketball teams advanced to the 2nd round of playoffs. Eight teams made the playoffs this year. Rock Hill High had 21 all-region athletes, two players of the year, a newcomer of the year, and one region coach of the year.
Rock Hill High’s faculty and staff continued to focus on improving students’ achievements on End of Course, ACT, and SAT testing. Graduation rate has improved, and we will continue to focus our efforts on improving in all areas. We will continue to work with students to provide the knowledge and skills needed to compete in a global society. The School Improvement Council, and the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program continued this year to improve school climate and character education at Rock Hill High School. Students were recognized with over 2,000 Bearcat Bucks for showing Bearcat PRIDE (Participation, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, & Excellence). We hope to have continued success with our positive intervention program.
Kelly Scott, SIC Chair
Arthur W. Ahl, II, Principal
